Electrode.



N0.v45,412. EATENTED 3504,1903.

I H..BLAGKMAN.

ELECTRODE.

APPLICATION FILED p20. a, was.

no MODEL.

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FIG. 3.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

2,: By his Attorneys,

rm: Noam: FiTERS no mom-urns. wasnmumu a c Patented December 1, 190 3.

HENRY BLACKMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRODE.

SEECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,412, dated December1903- Applioation filed December 8, 1896. Eerial No. 614,894. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it m/nty concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY BLACKMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Electrodes, of which-thefollowingisa specification.

This invention relates to electrodes for electrolytic decompositions, ofwhich the electrolysis of sodium chlorid is a type.

My invention relates to the means formechanicallyandclectricallyconnectingtheelectrodes and for keeping themproperly spaced apart within the electrolyte.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is an elevation of my improvedelectrodes and their connections, the bus-bars being in section. Fig. 2is a plan showing three of the electrodes and their connections. Fig. 3is a section of the anode on the line 8 3 in Fig.1. Fig. 4 is a sectionon the line a .90 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section of an electrode on theline 5 5 in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, let A designate the anode, and B thecathode, the line ma; indicating the level of the electrolyte. Thecathodes are of extended surface beneath the level of the electrolyteand are extended above said level in any suitable shape for makingelectrical connection with positive and negative conductors or bus barsG and D. I prefer to form them with arms or elbows extending firstupwardly and then outwardly, as shown, the outer ends of these armsbeing clamped to the bus-bars by means of any suitable screw-clamp. Theshape of the electrodes, however, is not essential to my invention.

The anode-plate A illustrated is first formed by casting or forging andis then treated for the proper oxidation of its surface or of thatportion of its surface which is exposed below the level a:This'treatment consists, essentially, in exposing it to oxidizing agentsunder such conditions as to convert the exterior portion of the ironintomagnetic iron oxid, either Fe Q, or other composition of magnetic orelectroconductive oxid. The treatment must be continued until the oxidis formed of sufficientthickness and density to be impermeable to thechlorin or other oxidizing agents liberated at the anode duringstruction.

drawing the latter together.

electrolysis in order that the layer of oxid may protect the underlyingiron from corrosion. Not even the minutest pinhole must be leftunprotected.

The cathodes B B may be of iron, zinc, or other suitable metal.Preferably they are of the same shape as the anodes and are alternatedthere with,their connecting-arms being, however, extended in thecontrary direction in order that the positive conductors or busbars mayextend along one side of the electrolytic tank and the negative barsalong the other side thereof.

The particular mode of connecting the electrodes with the bus-bars whichI have devised is advantageous in that it insures a firm mechanicalconnection combined with thorough electrical conductivity and the ability to readily remove any one electrode without disturbing itsneighbors. The bus-bars are double, consisting of two bars arranged sideby side, with a space between them, as shown, (or, if preferred, asingle bar may have perforations spaced apart the same distance as theelectrodes.) The end arm of the electrode rests upon thebus-bars and isheld down upon them by a clamp G of special con- The arm a of eachelectrode has a half-round upright groove 1) formed in it, whichreceives the bolt act the clamp. The head G of the clamp is extended tolie along gthe top of the arm and has lugs 01 d projecting downwardlyfrom it, which overhang the arm on the side opposite to that in which isformed the groove 6. A nut screws on the threaded end of the bolt 0 ofthe clamp-for By reason of the construction of the clamp, the bolt 0being on one side of the arm and the lugs d on the other, the clamp isheld in place with relation to the arm and its head is prevented fromslipping off,- thereby greatly facilitating the operations of applyingor removing the clamp. The axis of the bolt is brought as near aspossiblein line withthe longitudinal middle of the electrode-plate andof the arm a, so that the clamp bears equally upon the arm. The currentis conducted in part directly between the arm and bus-bars where theirsurfaces come in contact and partly indirectly through the clamp, thebolt of which is of ample cross-section for carrying the entire numberof amperes flowing to or from the electrode.

For insuring that the positive and negative electrodes shall be keptproperly spaced apart I provide insulating stops or buttons projectingfrom one electrode and preventing too close approach of the next. Thesesteps or buttons H H are applied, preferably, to the cathode and aremade adjustable, the preferred construction being shown in Fig. 5. Thecathode has two holes bored through it, which are threaded with a coarsescrewthread, and the stops H H, which are made, preferably, of glass orporcelain, are formed as short screws, having a coarse thread fittingthat of the holes, their heads being squared or flattened to enable themto be engaged for screwing them in or out. These stops can be screwed inmore or less, according to the distance apart at which it. is desiredthat the electrodes shall stand. Preferably there are four pairs of theinsulating-stops H, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. By means ofthese insulating-stops I can insure that the electrodes shall be spaceda uniform distance apart, thereby equalizing the resistance through theintervening electrolyte throughout the entire battery of plates, so thateach electrode shall receive the same proportion of current and auniform electrolytic action is set up in all the interspaces.

4 shows the anode in cross-section with its iron interior and oxidizedsurface and the witnesses.

to the anode, after which the latter may be baked in order to vitrifyand set the glaze, as is practiced in the glazing of earthenware.

I do not in this application claim the imp oved anode-plate and processof making it shown and described or the electrode protected, asexplained, by insulating material at the surface of the electrolyte,these parts ofthe invention being claimed in my application Serial No.154,163, filed April 24:, 1903.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with an electrode-platehaving threaded sockets, of adjustable insulating-stops H constructed asscrews screwing into-said sockets.

2. The combination of an electrode having a projecting arm a, of a clampG for fastening it to the bus-bar, with its bolt 0 arranged to extendalong oneside of the arm, and with a head having projections passing tothe other side of the arm.

3. The combination with an electrode having a projecting arm a, formedwith a groove 1) on one side, of a clamp G for connecting said arm tothe bus-bar, having a bolt 0 lying in said groove, and a head G havingprojections engaging the opposite side of the arm.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing HENRY BLAOKMAN. Witnesses:

FRED WHITE,

THOMAS F. WALLACE.

